Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday nailed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government on the issue of unemployment and for denying Murshidabad of its due in terms of development.
"The West Bengal Government doesn't treat the people of Murshidabad well. It is not giving the district what it deserves. We tried to bring the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) here, but the government has halted it. I have told to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary that the Congress is strong in Murshidabad, which is correct, but let's resolve to bring a Congress Government in the state so that we can fulfill all that's required to develop Murshidabad. We will not only do that, but also for the rest of the state. I have told him that we must do away with both CPI-M and the TMC from this state," Gandhi said at a rally in Murshidabad.
The Gandhi scion remarked that nothing much has changed in the landscape of West Bengal except the colour of the flag from red to green. He charged the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Government with continuing the same old policies of the earlier Left-Front Government.
"Earlier, red flags used to flutter, you will remember that these people follows the ideologies which are 70-80 years old. Russia has done away with it, so also the rest of the world, even China got tired of it, but the CPI-M has not left their ideologies. When Mamata Banerjee came ,we thought the Bengal will see development but it's just the colour of the flag has changed. Earlier, it used to be red, and now, it is green and nothing has changed. What work the Left used to do earlier, the TMC is following the same path. Earlier, the Left used to work only for its workers, and not for the people of Bengal. The same is done by the TMC," Rahul said.
The Congress vice-president attacked Banerjee over Saradha and the chit-fund scam, and said she shied away from conducting a CBI probe.
"In Delhi, we have a government which lasted for ten years, and we brought out 15 crores people out from poverty. We do not different between race colour and ethnicity or religion. We have ensured that everyone gets a guaranteed 100 days of work under MGNREGA. Mamata Banerjee says that Delhi doesn't send money, from Murshidabad only 120 crores of money has been sent back. We have ensured food security, so that everybody gets food. If Mamata is running is a government for the poor then why did she not enforced this food security," Gandhi said.
"We have waived of 70000 crores of loan for the farmers. Earlier your land were taken cheaply, now we have increased the minimum support price of your land by four-fold. Let me tell you what Mamata talks of , We talk about empowering poor and food security, but Mamata talks of Saradha and chit fund scam. At least 20 lakh people were affected because of her she did a scam of 18 crores through chit fund scam. Now the Mamata Banerjee government is not taking any action on such people who were involved, She has not conducted any CBI probe because she knows if she does it then it she who will get exposed," Gandhi added.
Gandhi snubbed Banerjee for doing little to protect the women in the state.
"We have made few promises that 33 percent women will get reservations in parliament and assemblies. We want to open 2000 women only police stations including in West Bengal. Women of Bengal had said that we need 12 cylinders as with nine cylinders it is not working anymore, our government has ensured that you get 12 cylinders. While we are trying to empower the women, but it is West Bengal which has reached number one in terms of rape even though you have women chief minister," Gandhi added.
The Gandhi scion also talked about giving three more rights to the people which has been added in the Congress' manifesto,"We came here before you and you had said that we have already given you three rights that of food, job and education you asked for three more rights. We have guaranteed in our manifesto this time that farmers, labourers get medicine. You can get operation from hospitals. Secondly, we are going to provide you with a firm shelter on your head. We have ensured that in our manifesto that the elderly gets pension. Mamata had made a lot of talks about doing out with unemployment but see there are a lot of people who are unemployed. We want to ensure that there should products which should be made from Murshidabad. But this can neither be done by Mamata Banerjee or by the Left front. Left doesnot believe in industrialization."
He also talked about creating industrilisation and giving jobs to the youth by creating industrial corridors and said that his party implemented the Sachchar commission.
From Delhi to Kolkata we have created industrial corridor where we will create industry and lakhs of crores will get jobs. I want to see a situation where there no hands will be raised which will say that they are unemployed. India is a place where every community has a place and should stay together. While there is another party which spreads hatred. That's why we have created a minority ministry so that all communities feel that they can also progress here and also implemented Sachchar Commission.
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Rahul Gandhi also talked about empowering those people who were above below poverty line but not in the middle class category.
"We want to now lift 70 crores of people who are above poverty line but below middle class. We will give the children of their's proper education and a place in institutes and colleges. We will give scholarships to these students. We are not like the BJP which campaigns India Shinning and only works for few," Gandhi said.
Rahul stated that there will be a huge change in Bengal which awaits in the near future hinting on a possible change in government in the state and he exhorted the WBPCC chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will play a key role.
"In the foreseeing future I know there will be a tornado that will sweep Bengal and therefore Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has been made as the WBPCC chief so that he could bring changes in Bengal and brings a government which works for the whole of Bengal," Gandhi added.
